418
7'
FEDERAL REPORTER.,
Louisiana, and it was essential to the jurisdiction of the court that such other state or states be specially designated. The defendant is entitled to actual and definite notice in the plaintiff's pleading of the citizenship, or alleged citizenship, of each assignor. No fact in the pleadings of the plaintiff, in these courts, can be more material, for the authority of the court to act depends upon it. It was not sufficient, then, to say that the assignors were "citizens, respectively, of states other than the state of Louisiana, and competent, as such citizens, to maintain suit in this court." Jurisdiction cannot be inferentially averred. Bradley v. Rhines, 8 Wall. 393; Metcalf v. Watertown, 128 U. S. 586,9 Sup. Ot. 173; Parker v. Ormsby, 141 U. S. 83, 11 Sup. Ct. 912; New Orleans v. Benjamin, 153 U. S. 411, 14 Sup. Ot. 905; Hunt v. Howes (0. O. A., 5th circuit, decided at this term) 74 Fed. 657. With relation to the decision of the circuit court that the plaintiff's bill was without equity, it is enough to say that, since the court had no jurisdiction whatever of the parties, that holding was, we think, superfluous. It was enough to sustain the demurrer because the necessary diversity of citizenship was not properly alleged. We therefore affirm the judgment of the circuit court, without prejudice to the right of plaintiff to sufficiently present his cause, if any he has, in a court having jurisdiction.
GORHAM MANUF'G CO. V. WATSON et aL (Circuit Court, D. Massachusetts. May 20, 1896.)' CIRCUIT COURTS-.JURISDICTION OVER PARTIES-PATENT SUITS.
The provisions of the judiciary act of March 3, 1887, in relatton to the districts in which parties may be Bued, apply to patent infringement Buits; and such a Buit cannot be maintained in one district against a corporation which iB a citizen and inhabitant of another district and state. Donnelly v. Cordage Co., 66 Fed. 613, followed.
This was a suit by the Gorham Manufacturing Oompany against Olarence L. Watson, the Watson & Newell Oompany, and others, for infringement of a patent. The cause was heard on demurrer to the bill for want of jurisdiction. William A. Jenner, for complainant. Charles E. Mitchell, for defendants. OOLT, Oircuit Judge. This is a suit brought in the district of Massachusetts for the enforcement of a patent right. The complainant is a citizen and inhabitant of Rhode Island. The defendant corporation is also a citizen and inhabitant of Rhode Island, and has appeared specially and demurred to the bill upon the ground of want of jurisdiction. This demurrer raises the question whether the act of March 3, 1887 (24 Stat. 552), as corrected by the act of August 13, 1888 (25 Stat. 433), is applicable to suits for the enforcement of a patent right, brought against a 'litizen or inhabitant of the United States. Until this precise question shall have been au-
CROWN POINT MIN. CO. V. ONTARIO SILVER-MIN. CO.
419
thoritatively determined by the supreme court or by a circuit court of appeals, this court will follow its decision in Donnelly v. Cordage Co., 66 Fed. 613, which holds that the acts of 1887 and 1888 include this class of cases. It follows that this suit, as against the defendant corporation, not being brought in the district "whereof he [the defendant] is an inhabitant," cannot be maintained, and that the demurrer must be sustained. The bill is also directed against certain individuals, citizens of Massachusetts. The bill alleges that, before and up to the time of the incorporation of these defendants as the ·Watson & Newell Company, they had transacted business as co-partners, under the firm name of Watson, )/"ewell & Co., at Attleboro, Mass.; that the firm turned over its business to the corporation about June, 1895; that the corporation succeeded to the business of the firm; that the members of said co-partnership became the directors, managers, and stockholders of said corporation; that the said Ripley became the president and a director, the said Gowan the treasurer and a director, and the said Watson and :Newell directors; that the corporation has continued the business by the direction of, and under the supervision and management of, the defendants Watson, Newell, Ripley, and Gowan. These allegations are not denied. Upon this state of proof, I think the complainant has made out a case which makes these defendants personally liable to an injunction. Upon the question of infringement I entertain no doubt. The patent is for a design for the handle of spoons and similar articles, granted to George Wilkinson, August 29, 1893. A comparison of the defendants' design with the patented design shows a dose imitation. It is true that, upon careful inspection, there are certain differences in detail, composition, and outline; but these differences are not apparent, and would not be observed by the ordinary purchaser, at least until after attention had been called to them. .It is sufficient for the purpose of determining this motion that, in my opinion, the general resemblance between the two designs would deceive ordinary observers and purchasers, although expert dealers in the trade might at once detect certain differences of detail. The demurrer is sustained, the bill to be dismissed, with costs as to the defendant the Watson & Newell Company. The motion for a preliminary injunction is granted against the defendants Watson, Newell, Ripley, and Gowan.
CROWN POINT MIN. CO. v. ONTARIO SILVER-MIN. CO.
(CirCUit Court, D. Utah. April 20, 1896.) No.7. JURISDICTION OF FEDERAL COURTS-ADMISSION OF ING CAUSES. OF PEND-
The provision inserted in the constitution of Utah, under authority of the enabling act, in relation to the transfer of causes pending in the territorial courts of the proper state and federal courts, respectively, contains a proviso that no civil suit, other than those of which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction, shall be transferred to them, "except